Rainy Sunday Afternoon.

1. It's Sunday afternoon. My kids are sleeping and I cannot.
2. My handsome husband is in the Bahamas right now. I miss him terribly and can't wait to give him a big hug (and a huge kissaroo) on Tuesday night. We're planning to surprise him at the airport. Kirah can't wait to be with her daddy again! Nobody in this family sleeps well without Daddy being home with us.
3. My momma just left my house. She's been here with me since Friday. She's priceless. She amazes me. I do not know how I could survive even one day without her in my life.
4. My dad is glad she's coming home. He's been lonely without her this weekend. I bet he'll lay a wet one on her when he sees her! :)
5. The girls and I spent last week in Indiana. Had a chance to serve others while I was there. Cleaned my parents house for them. Helped a friend who just lost her house in the flood a few weeks ago (it was a great experience). Planted flowers for my sister and did a little housework for her (she's down with an injured knee). Great food. Great conversations. Great memories - including an evening at the park with the fam, an unforgettable trip to Lowes, and a late-night heart-to-heart with my momma. Laughter, tears, sunshine and rain.
6. Pray for my dad. There's a lot going on - too much to share right now. Unsure of the future and worried about the "what if's". Please help me pray.
7. In 3 days my baby girl will be ONE! As hard and trying as this past year has been, I'm sad that she's already 361 days old. She's walking too. Unbelievable.
8. I need to get my laundry put away before my lil' darlings awake.
More soon.

The List.

Have you ever began your day by making a list of all your "To Do's"? You know, the things you need to accomplish that day? Once your list is complete, you get busy trying to tackle The List. Then, before you know it you are doing five other things (that no doubt HAD to be done) but never even made The List...
and, (this is the best-or most ridiculous part) if you're me you go back to The List, add the five things you just did and immediately cross them off. Ahhh...anything to feel accomplished.

:)

Going Home to Help.

I will be going home in two weeks to help in any way possible. Someone very dear to me has lost all she's ever owned. This lady was like a mother and a great friend to me growing up. When I look back on my jr. and high school years, there is no doubt it was her love and support that carried me through some tough times.

Next week we have church camp. I am teaching a seminar there on Tues. and Thurs. so I cannot go home yet. I plan to pack up after camp and head to Indiana. I need to be there. I want to be there. I am ready to do anything and everything I can to help those whose lives seem to be falling apart, especially my friend and her family.

We haven't been in close contact much over the past year because of some sticky circumstances, communication breakdowns...crap like that. But, I have never felt such a strong desire to pour my energy and efforts (and my heart) into something. These people need to see Jesus. My friend needs to see Jesus. God is doing something amazing in my heart for my friend. A month ago, there was an incrediable distance between us. Today I just want to wrap my arms around her and do anything possible to bring hope to her heart. I feel nothing but compassion.

* God, I pray that you would work through me. Beginning now, I ask that you would give me the words to speak that will bring hope and joy in this time of great loss and desperation. Would you be my hands and my feet as I work to restore whatever I can. Help me to see through your eyes. If I've ever wanted you to increase and Amy to decrease, it's now God. You know my heart. Amen. *

Even now...

If you haven't heard, there was horrible flooding in Indiana this weekend. One of the worst areas effected was our hometown. I spent 90% of the day yesterday on the phone with my family and friends trying to grasp what was happening to those I love so dearly. I cried a lot. Worried a lot. Asked a lot of questions and worried and cried some more. I just cannot begin to fathom some of the fear and panic so many people most have felt. I cannot being to understand just how scary it must be to leave your home, all of your earthly treasures knowing that when you return nothing will ever be the same. Through this, God has reminded me of how precious life is. How blessed we are to have family. To be loved. To have shelter. To be saved.

Both of our families are safe. My dad and my brother-in-law are both working non-stop to assist in restoration efforts. If you think of it, pray for their safety as they continue working 16hrs. at a time, coming home to sleep for eight and going back again. They make me proud.
Also, pray for all the victims of the flood. Many have lost everything. They are homeless and feel hopeless. My heart is so heavy for each of them.

I read in God's word today - Don't let your heart be troubled. Trust in God.
The truth is He is still God and He has control of it all. When we don't understand, and I don't...God is still God. When we are worried, as I often do...God is still God. When we doubt, and I have...God is still God. Even now, God is still God.

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

There are days that I have no idea how I am able to get anything accomplished. Today is one of those days. Yesterday was too.

I am feeling so exhausted this week. Kenah Jo had tubes placed in her ears on Monday morning. I thought that she'd be sleeping great after her surgery because her ear infections would be healed. Ha. Dream on! She is not sleeping well at all-nap or nightime! For instance, last night I finally got her down about 10:30. She was up 4 times before midnight. Then, down again at 12:15 and up at 3:45 and 5:45. If you've never experienced extreme sleep depravation for several months on end - 11 to be exact - well, um...it sucks. She wants to nurse all the time. She's not eating well. She's grumpy. Clingy. I cannot wait for this storm to be over. I am so burnt out.

I feel like I run around here like a chicken with her head cut off. Dishes. Cleaning up every bodies messes. Laundry. Dirty diapers. Cooking. Cleaning. Bath time. Whiny babies. More dirty diapers. More laundry. I feel like a mouse running on a wheel that never stops and has no end.
Don't get me wrong - I LOVE my life. I adore my family. I would not happy doing ANYTHING other than what I do. But today I could use a break. You know, not getting enough sleep fogs the lenses of the rest of life.

Just for the record: at the end of each day (about 11:30 p.m.), when I have my sweet girls tucked into bed (for an hour or so anyway) there is a sense of accomplishment and an enormous amount of contentment that overwhelms my heart and brings peace and joy to my soul.